Online Racial Discrimination and Suicidal Ideation Among Latine Adolescents

Online racial discrimination (ORD) is a growing problem among Latine youth that may help explain their elevated risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The present study examined the relation between direct and indirect experiences of ORD on suicidal ideation in a nationally representative sample of Latine youth in the United States.

This cross-sectional study used data collected in 2020 to 2021 from the National Survey on Critical Digital Literacy, a population-based, mixed-methods study on the psychological impact of online racism experiences among US adolescents aged 11 to 19 years. Participants are self-identified Latine adolescents (N = 243; 56.8% male) inclusive of all racial backgrounds. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the association between individual (ie, direct) and vicarious (ie, indirect) ORD and suicidal ideation in the past 2 weeks.

Adjusting for demographics, hours spent online, and depression symptoms, findings from the logistic regression model showed that adolescents with higher levels of individual ORD had higher odds of endorsing suicidal ideation in the past 2 weeks (adjusted odds ratio = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.02-4.69) compared to those with lower levels. This association was not observed with vicarious ORD (adjusted odds ratio = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.50-1.43).

Findings suggest that direct, but not indirect, exposures to ORD may confer elevated risk for thinking about suicide among Latine youth, above and beyond the effects of depression symptoms and hours spent online. Addressing direct ORD may help to improve the cultural responsiveness of youth suicide prevention strategies targeting Latine youth.

We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our reference list. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work.